MBB: North Coast Athletic Conference

ScotsFan · January 28, 2010, 09:59:33 AM

Looking ahead to Denison, I see we have a new 1,000 point scorer in the house.

Congrats to Chris Luther for eclipsing the mark last night in a win over Kenyon!

As for the Big Red, I'm not really sure what to make of them. They have a win over Wabash. They nearly knocked off OWU in Deleware. They gave Allegheny a game in Meadeville. But, they had lost 5 straight heading into their showdown with Kenyon where they proceeded to thump their rivals quite convincingly. I can honestly say, that is not the result I was expecting.

I'm hoping that Wooster's good form will carry over to this game with DU on Saturday. I really don't want to see another performance like they put up in both their games vs. Kenyon or in their games with the EC or Oberlin. If they can clamp down defensively and win as convincingly as they did last night vs. Hiram, there's no reason to think that Wooster shouldn't be able to put away the Big Red rather convincingly as well. But, given the Scots' propensity to play at the level of their opponents so often this season, I'm preparing myself for a game that will be closer than what it should be. Hopefully the Scots will take note of that 81-66 beatdown that the Big Red gave the Lords last night and prepare themselves for a tougher game than they may have originally thought.

David Collinge · January 28, 2010, 12:18:10 PM

I didn't think the Scots even practiced the zone.

David Collinge · January 29, 2010, 07:21:35 PM

On tap for Saturday:

Porter: Wabash (6-3) at Kenyon (2-7), 1pm -- Live everything -- Game 1 of a DH, women vs. Allegheny at 3
Stout: OWU (6-3) at Hiram (5-4), 3pm -- Live everything
Non-Alcoholic: Earlham (1-8) at Oberlin (0-9), ~3pm -- Live everything -- Game 2 of a women/men DH
Pale Ale: Allegheny (6-3) at Wittenberg (6-3), ~4pm -- Live everything -- Game 2 of a DH, women vs. OWU (for the conference lead!) at 2pm
Light Lager: Denison (4-5) at Wooster (9-0), 7:30pm -- Live everything (I think there's a charge for video) + live alternate Woo audio

pennstghs · January 30, 2010, 10:19:22 AM

Upset watch: Kenyon vs Wabash.......only cause I called them out on the carpet this week

ScotsFan · January 30, 2010, 10:41:07 AM

Quote from: David Collinge on January 29, 2010, 07:21:35 PM
On tap for Saturday:

Porter: Wabash (6-3) at Kenyon (2-7), 1pm -- Live everything -- Game 1 of a DH, women vs. Allegheny at 3
Stout: OWU (6-3) at Hiram (5-4), 3pm -- Live everything
Non-Alcoholic: Earlham (1-8) at Oberlin (0-9), ~3pm -- Live everything -- Game 2 of a women/men DH
Pale Ale: Allegheny (6-3) at Wittenberg (6-3), ~4pm -- Live everything -- Game 2 of a DH, women vs. OWU (for the conference lead!) at 2pm
Light Lager: Denison (4-5) at Wooster (9-0), 7:30pm -- Live everything (I think there's a charge for video) + live alternate Woo audio

Are we talking something along the lines of Great Lakes Dortmuder or Miller Lite. Usually, I'm not much into Lite beers, but in this case, I'd be willing to make an exception. Although, if you were talking a beer like Dortmunder, keep the tap flowing!

wooscotsfan · January 30, 2010, 11:45:34 AM

It may be a "light lager" matchup

but I hope that Wooster doesn't take Denision too "lightly" tonight.

Which Big Red squad shows up tonight?
- The team that beat Wabash earlier this season?
- The team that just waxed Kenyon by 15 points, a bigger margin than Wooster's wins over the Lords?
- The team that nearly beat Wooster in Timken last year before an incredible 3 pointer by Hallowell forced OT?

When I make the trek to Timken this evening, I hope to see some "Stout"

defense by Wooster so they can register another NCAC win!

GO SCOTS!

ScotsFan · January 30, 2010, 12:37:48 PM

Quote from: wooscotsfan on January 30, 2010, 11:45:34 AM
It may be a "light lager" matchup but I hope that Wooster doesn't take Denision too "lightly" tonight.

Which Big Red squad shows up tonight?
- The team that beat Wabash earlier this season?
- The team that just waxed Kenyon by 15 points, a bigger margin than Wooster's wins over the Lords?
- The team that nearly beat Wooster in Timken last year before an incredible 3 pointer by Hallowell forced OT?

When I make the trek to Timken this evening, I hope to see some "Stout" defense by Wooster so they can register another NCAC win!
GO SCOTS!

Niiiice!

Your mentioning of Denison beating Kenyon by a wider margin than Wooster beat the Lords got me thinking. Wooster's average margin of victory over the top teams in the league (Witt, Wabash, OWU, Hiram) is larger than their average margin of vicrtory over the bottom dwellars of the conference (Oberlin, the EC, Kenyon). Go figure?!

wally_wabash · January 30, 2010, 01:23:45 PM

Kenyon has the early lead on Wabash, 16-13 with just over 8 minutes to go in the first half. Wabash is shooting cold to start here as they are just 5-17 so far. JT Knight is not dressed today for Kenyon. With Kenyon missing one of their top two players, Wabash can not miss on this opportunity. LGs need to pick it up here.

Halftime in Gambier...Kenyon leads 30-27. Wabash is 10-29 shooting, 5-15 on 3's. Over half of Wabash's shots are three pointers. Wabash shot just two free throws in the first half. That is not Wabash's game. Not even remotely. Knapke leads Kenyon with 12 points. Haltom leads Wabash with 9 points. Aaron Brock scored 8 points before having to leave with three personal fouls. Get it to the paint, gentlemen.

Six and a half minutes into the second half...Wabash has taken 10 shots, 8 of them three pointers. That is exactly the opposite of what needs to be happening. Wabash does have a four point lead, but this is brutal. Brock and Burkett both have four fouls now, so it looks like Wabash is going to win or lose strictly from the perimeter today...an uneasy proposition to say the least. Smith splits free throws and Wabash leads 39-34 with 13:08 to play.

Kenyon is throwing a 2-3 zone at Wabash and the LGs are completely clueless as to how to get the ball inside against it. OWU did the same thing on Wednesday night. This will need to be addressed.

6:41 to play, Wabash leads 41-39. The three point attempt tally is up to 28 for Wabash. Twenty freaking eight. I'm at a loss to explain what the LGs are doing here today. Kenyon has used 6 players. Just six. Wabash's lack of aggressive play is letting the Lords get away with not using their bench.

Kenyon has tied the game at 41-41. 5:41 to play. LGs are shooting 28.6% in the game. Ugh.

Tied at 45-45, 2:20 to go. My computer is going to need a virus scan when this game is over.

1:05 to play....Wabash leads 49-47. Kenyon is in a timeout and will have the ball.

0:21 to go...Wabash calls a timeout with the ball and 12 seconds left to shoot. LGs maintain their 49-47 lead.

Wabash misses a, wait for it, 3 pointer but Kenyon can't control the rebound and Wabash comes away with it. Brock gets fouled, splits his foul shots and Kenyon has the ball, down 50-47 with 5 seconds to play. Wabash has missed TWENTY FIVE 3 point shots in this game.

Just when you thought this game couldn't get uglier, Kenyon's inbounder runs the baseline after a timeout...turnover. Wabash inbounds, Brock is fouled and he makes two shots. Five point lead, and that will do it.

Wabash "wins" 52-47. And I need a shower after that game. LGs shot 28.1% for the game [/shudder]

David Collinge · January 30, 2010, 01:53:09 PM

JT Knight is not playing for reasons of "coach's decision." Pretty gutsy move on Matt Croci's part, and one I admire him for. Kenyon's looking pretty good in JT's absence, especially on defense.

I leave this game in your tender mercies, Wally; it's time to switch over to today's Main Event--the OWU (8-1) at Witt (9-0) women's battle for the conference lead.

ScotsFan · January 30, 2010, 04:04:34 PM

OWU has some work to do up in Hiram or else all that Mo they had going for them will be caputski.

Hiram is up 8 (53-45) with just over 10 minutes remaining.

imderekpoe · January 30, 2010, 04:15:08 PM

And I thought the Scots game at Kenyon was ugly! I decided to stop at the Palace in Gambier for the afternoon tilt before heading up to Wooster. Much like the game against the Scots, Kenyon led most of the 1st half, but 'Bash kept it close and hit a big 3 to make it a 3-pt game at the break. Haltom hit some big 3's to start the 2nd period, but the Lords hung around, helped by Wabash's poor shooting. Kenyon gave it all they had, but with Knight not dressing they only played 6 players and just didn't have anything left at the end. Wabash won the game by cleaning up on the boards with 17 offensive rebounds, including huge 2nd chances in the last couple of posessions.

In tonight's game, lets hope that the Scots can maintain the defensive intensity that they've been showing lately and take care of the ball. On paper this looks like a big win for the Scots, but it probably did last year, too.

ScotsFan · January 30, 2010, 05:17:57 PM

Well, OWU's conference title hopes pretty much ended today. They fall at Hiram 79-71. That leaves Witt and Wabash 3 games behind front running Wooster.

ScotsFan · January 30, 2010, 05:23:21 PM

And in the last afternoon game for the day, Witt and Allegheny are in a tight one:

Witt leads 41-40. Under 15 to play.

wally_wabash · January 30, 2010, 06:03:23 PM

Great results for Wabash today....OWU and Witt lose. Gheny wins, but Wabash owns h2h with the Gators. As poor as Wabash looked today, I don't think the standings could have finished better for the LGs at the end of play today.

ScotsFan · January 30, 2010, 10:01:22 PM

Well, Wednesday I came away very impressed by the defensive performance from the Scots. And today, while they still played pretty good defense, it was the offense that stole the show for Wooster! Haven't been able to say that for a while!

It's amazing how many points you score when you don't take 10 minutes to get into the game. For the first time in a long time, the Scots came out firing from the opening tip and really never had a let-down offensively.

About the only Scot that struggled offensively tonight was Justin Hallowell. But Justin did snag a game high 12 rebounds to make up for his offensive woes. Other than that, Wooster just put on a clinic placing 4 in double figures led once again by Mr. Franks who dropped in a cool 30 and had a 3-4 performance from deep to go with it! Joining Franks in double figures were Bryan Wickliffe and Nate Balch with 18 apiece. Both had nice games inside and outside respectively. And Matt Fegan rounded out the double digit scorers with 13.

Wooster shot 54% from the floor and though they only shot 40% from deep, Franks, Fegan and Balch combined to go 10-15. The rest of the team went 2-15.

Wooster moves to 10-0 in the NCAC and maintains their 3 game lead over Wabash and Allegheny. Wooster has also quietly won 10 in a row now. Up next is a rematch with 2nd place Allegheny who should be coming into this game riding some confidence after their win at Witt today and the fact that they had Wooster all but beat 3 weeks ago in Meadville. I will say this. The Scots are playing better on both ends than they were on that Wednesday in Meadville 3 weeks ago. Wooster might just be putting it all together for the first time really all season and at just the right time too!